Three years of loving him, three days to erase myself from his world novel Chapter 152

Julian maintained a detached expression. He reached up to adjust his tie, his long fingers pulling at the fabric with noticeable force.

Hearing her words, he opened his mouth to reply, but as he glanced up, his eyes locked with Clara's. His brow furrowed instantly.

From a distance, Clara met his gaze. Her face was an emotionless mask, save for a slow, deliberate blink.

Over the three years they had been together, she had navigated his moods with extreme caution, constantly reading his expressions, terrified of making a single misstep that might annoy him.

Because of that, she knew exactly how to interpret his face.

That frown meant impatience and disgust.

He was angry because she had been disobedient and allowed Seraphina to be publicly humiliated.

Clara took a deep breath. Just when she thought she understood the depths of his favoritism, Julian proved her wrong. His indulgence toward Seraphina was boundless.

Even knowing exactly how manipulative Seraphina was, he still chose to protect her.

It must truly be love.

Clara gave a cynical half-smile, shot him a chilling glare, and turned on her heel. She quickly typed a reply to Leo:

[Those women must have seen the news and showed up on their own.]

It certainly wasn't Julian helping her.

He would have preferred she take all the blame so Seraphina could escape unscathed.

Hitting send, Clara walked away without looking back.

As a result, she completely missed the dark, intense gaze following her every move.

Seeing her leave without a word, Julian's frown deepened. He took a step forward, intending to go after her.

Seraphina bit her lip, panic surging in her chest. Terrified that if he walked away now, he would turn cold toward her forever, she desperately grabbed the hem of his jacket. "Julian, please don't go. I really know I messed up this time. I shouldn't have been so reckless. I shouldn't have called the cops or held that press conference without knowing the truth. I promise I'll never do it again."

She pleaded softly, just as she always did, her eyes wide and tear-filled, a sight designed to invoke pity.

Julian stopped. He looked down at her, his gaze heavy and unreadable.

And conversely, the sudden intense focus he now directed at Clara.

Especially after today's disaster.

Back in the conference hall, when she was being cornered and interrogated by the press, he had been standing right there. A single word from him would have silenced them all. But he had said nothing. He just watched her get torn apart, only intervening at the very last second.

Was it to teach her a lesson? Or... was it a punishment?

Seraphina refused to dwell on it. She stared fixedly in the direction he had gone, her eyes red with venomous jealousy.

No matter what, she was going to win his heart back. She would secure that competition spot.

She absolutely refused to let herself and her mother sink back into the miserable poverty they had escaped. It was too agonizing.

Brushing away her tears, Seraphina made a silent vow. She refused to believe Julian would settle for used goods.

Right at that moment.

An elegant figure suddenly marched right up to her and, without a single word of warning, delivered a sharp slap across her face.